Study type: Epidemiological study

Interactions between occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and chemicals for brain tumour risk in the INTEROCC study epidem.

By: Turner MC, Benke G, Bowman JD, Figuerola J, Fleming S, Hours M, Kincl L, Krewski D, McLean D, Parent ME, Richardson L, Sadetzki S, Schlaefer K, Schlehofer B, Schüz J, Siemiatycki J, Tongeren MV, Cardis E
Published in: Occup Environ Med 2017; 74 (11): 802-809
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

Possible interactions between occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and chemicals for brain tumor risk were investigated in a 7-country population-based case-control study (INTEROCC study).

Further details

Occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields as well as to 29 different metals, solvents or other chemical agents was assessed by particular job exposure matrices.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Reference group 1 low magnetic field strength: < 50th percentile (< 0.46 µT-years) and never exposure to 1 out of 29 chemicals
Group 2 low magnetic field strength: < 50th percentile (< 0.46 µT-years) and ever exposure to 1 out of 29 chemicals
Group 3 high magnetic field strength: ≥ 50th percentile (≥ 0.46 µT-years) and never exposure to 1 out of 29 chemicals
Group 4 high magnetic field strength: ≥ 50th percentile (≥ 0.46 µT-years) and ever exposure to 1 out of 29 chemicals

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Total 5,399 11,112
Participants 3,978 5,601
Participation rate 74 % 50 %
Evaluable 3,761 5,404
Other:

1939 glioma cases and 1822 meningioma cases

Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

There was no clear evidence for interactions between occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and any of the chemical exposures (including metals, solvents and other chemical agents) assessed for either glioma or meningioma risk. In sensitivity analyses, results were similar according to different exposure time windows, to categorization of exposure or in exposed-only analyses.
The authors concluded that there was no clear evidence for interactions between occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and chemical exposures in relation to glioma or meningioma risk observed.

Study funded by

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